Albert Fouerti, the founder and CEO of Appliances Connection, is a pioneer of the expansion of brick-and-mortar retail to the digital realm. He has led Appliances Connection for over two decades with his innovative strategies, parlaying his tech expertise and understanding of consumer behavior to transform a fragmented industry, yielding significant company growth. After launching computer and digital camera businesses earlier on (the latter becoming obsolete with the advent of higher-quality cellphone cameras), Albert and his business partner, and brother, Elie, shifted focus to home appliances, realizing their demand would only grow in scope as technology improved. In June 1999, 1 Stop Electronics Center Inc. was born; in addition to the successful 20,000-square-foot Brooklyn showroom, Appliances Connection merged with a competitor, Goedekers, in June 2021, expanding its warehouse capabilities, nationwide delivery network, and purchasing power. Albert plans to make Appliances Connection a household name, such as Zillow. “Our mission is to set a new bar for the experience,” explains Fouerti. “We want to be there from inspiration to installation, to redefine what people expect in terms of service when they research and buy appliances online.” When the pandemic hit, business soared; customers had a newfound appreciation for appliances and for buying them from a trusted e-commerce source. Under Albert’s confident, intuitive leadership, the company stocked warehouses with products during lockdown, avoiding many of the supply chain issues his competitors faced. He continues to innovate, determined to create a smooth path for purchase in a notoriously difficult business. “People have realized that cooking and eating at home can be healthier, delicious, and less expensive,” he says. “We want to leverage volume to offer the best prices while setting a high expectation for service.”